8 answers, 3 from Belgium's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
7.3% of 18- to 24-year-olds in Belgium had left education and training early in 2025, up from 7.0% in 2024, according to Eurostat.
An early leaver has at most lower secondary education and is not in any education or training. The figures come from Statbel's labour force survey. Education is run by the Flemish, French and German-speaking Communities, which publish their own school statistics, including the Flemish Department of Education and the French-language portal enseignement.be.
52.7% of people aged 25 to 34 in Belgium had completed tertiary education in 2025, up from 50.7% in 2024, according to Eurostat educational attainment data.
Tertiary education includes short-cycle courses, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, as well as degrees from university colleges. The figures come from Statbel's labour force survey and cover people living in private households. Universities are organised by the Communities, which also publish student enrolment figures.
General government spending on education in Belgium was 6.3% of GDP in 2024, according to Eurostat government expenditure by function (COFOG).
The figure covers spending by all levels of government on pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary education and related services. Most education spending in Belgium is made by the Flemish, French and German-speaking Communities. The National Bank of Belgium compiles the underlying government accounts.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 98.8%. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 95.7%; Belgium is 6th highest of 45. Worldwide: 15th of 134.
In 2023, gross secondary school enrolment in Belgium was 143.0%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Its high point since 2005 was 2015, at 164.1%; its low point was 2022, at 142.9%. Europe & Central Asia median: 102.3%; Belgium is 1st highest of 48. Worldwide: 1st of 138.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2023, is 82.1%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 62.5% (2007) to 83.6% (2022). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 75.9%, and Belgium placed 12th highest of 49. Of 120 countries with 2023 data, 17th highest.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, government spending on education in Belgium was 6.3% of GDP in 2022. Since 2005 it has ranged from 5.8% of GDP (2005) to 6.8% of GDP (2020). It is 6th highest of 45 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 4.5% of GDP. Of 155 countries with 2022 data, 18th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the number of primary pupils per teacher in Belgium at 11 in 2017. Since 2005 it has ranged from 11 (2010) to 11 (2005). Europe & Central Asia median: 13; Belgium is 30th highest of 39. Of 130 countries with 2017 data, 115th highest.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error